The JR Geibi Line for Miyoshi and Bingo-Shobara

The JR Geibi Line is a railway line that runs east-to-west connecting Hiroshima Station with rural towns and several cities in Hiroshima Prefecture before terminating in the city of Niimi in Okayama Prefecture.

Running through the Chugoku Mountains, this is the longest local line in the Chugoku region. However, there are no direct services from Hiroshima Station that run the full length of the Geibi Line.

Regular Geibi Line services from Hiroshima Station run as far as the following stations: Shimofukawa, Karuga, Shiwaguchi, and Miyoshi. There are also weekend and holiday rapid services that run as far as Bingo-Shobara in Shobara City.

Although there aren’t too many sightseeing attractions for tourists along the Geibi Line, one notable exception is Miyoshi, a charming city, rich in local character, with a wealth of unique attractions and beautiful natural scenery.

Geibi Line Sections

The Geibi Line runs from Hiroshima Station to Bitchu-Kojiro Station in Niimi City. However, most trains running on this line operate within one of three sections, which are shown below.

Hiroshima to Miyoshi Section

There are 21 stations on this section of the Geibi Line. This is also the busiest section of the line with more trains and more passengers.

Hiroshima > Yaga > Hesaka > Akiyaguchi > Kumura > Shimofukawa > Nakafukawa > Kamifukawa > Karuga > Shirakiyama > Nakamita > Kamimita > Shiwaguchi > Ibaraichi > Mukaihara > Yoshidaguchi > Kotachi > Kamikawatachi > Shiwachi > Nishi Miyoshi > Miyoshi

Miyoshi to Bingo-Ochiai Section

There are 14 stations on this section of the Geibi Line.

Miyoshi > Yatsugi > Kamisugi > Shiomachi > Shimowachi > Yamanouchi > Nanatuska > Bingo-Mikkaichi > Bingo-Shobara > Taka > Hirako > Bingo-Saijo > Hibayama > Bingo-Ochiai

Bingo Ochiai to Bitchu Kojiro Section

There are 11 stations between Bingo-Ochiai and Bitchu-Kojiro. However, all trains on this section of the Geibi Line actually start or terminate at Niimi Station on the Hakubi Line, so two more Hakubi Line stations are also shown on the route below.

Bingo-Ochiai > Dogoyama > Onuka > Uchina > Bingo-Yawata > Tojo > Nochi > Yagami > Ichioka > Sakane > Bitchu-Kojiro > Nunohara > Niimi

Key Destinations

Below are the key destinations that can be reached by riding direct Geibi Line services from Hiroshima Station. Example fares and journey times are given from Hiroshima Station.

Shirakiyama Station

This station is close to the trailhead for Mount Shirakiyama. As the summit is almost 890 meters above sea level, getting to the top will take about 4 hours, but the panoramic views are said to be a spectacular reward for the climber’s efforts. The trailhead is 10 minutes from the station.

Ibaraichi Station

Exit here for Mount Kannokurayama, which stands at an elevation of just over 560 meters above sea level. In the fall, it is sometimes possible to see a sea of clouds from the summit. Around the summit of this mountain is a park filled with thousands of cherry trees as well as azaleas, rhododendrons, wisteria, and maple trees. The mountain also has a launch site for paragliders and hang gliders. The trailhead for the mountain is a 10 minute walk from the station.

Kotachi Station

Exit here for Korinbo Temple. This temple was founded in 1496 and has many structures that are Important Cultural Properties of the city of Akitaka. The main hall dates from 1795 and the temple bell was cast in 1383. The temple garden is a popular tourist attraction and features a 300-year-old weeping cherry tree and a magnificent 400-year-old black pine. Korinbo is a 12-minute walk from the station.

Miyoshi Station

Miyoshi is a historic city with many well-preserved traditional buildings and living cultural traditions. In the summer months, visitors can see cormorant fishing on the Basen River, and the city also has many unique local attractions.

One of the most fascinating local attractions is the Miyoshi Mononoke Museum, which opened in 2019 in a modern steel-framed building constructed in a traditional style. This museum is dedicated to yokai: the spirits, demons, monsters and goblins of Japanese folklore. Japan’s first yokai museum, it holds a collection of over 5,000 items and artworks representing these mysterious supernatural beings. Miyoshi is also the setting of a famous 18th century haunting by yokai that is recounted in a story called Ino Mononoke Roku, and there are several historic scrolls on display that depict this story. The museum is usually closed on Wednesdays and during the New Year holidays. Walking to the museum would take about 30 minutes, but you can get there by bus in under 10 minutes or by taxi in around 5 minutes.

Just 7 minutes’ walk to the north of the Miyoshi Mononoke Museum is Dasai Shrine. This impressive shrine at the foot of Mount Higumayama is Miyoshi’s oldest, dating back to the year 808. The shrine also features in the story of Ino Mononoke Roku, as well as more recently in the popular manga and anime, Shrine of the Morning Mist.

Miyoshi was also the childhood home of a famous puppeteer and doll maker called Jusaburo Tsujimura (1933 – 2023), and around 50 of his elegant dolls are now on display in the Jusaburo Tsujimura Doll Museum, which is a 20-minute walk from the station. The second floor of the museum is dedicated to local history and folklore. This museum is also usually closed on Wednesdays.

Mount Takataniyama Observatory is a mountain-top observation deck at an elevation of 490 meters, which is known for its views over a sea of clouds between fall and early spring. This spot is also popular for its night view over the sparkling lights of the city. The observatory can be reached by taxi from Miyoshi Station in around 10 minutes.

Also in Miyoshi, Hiroshima Miyoshi Winery offers free wine tastings and visits to the wine cellars. The winery also has a cafe, buffet restaurant, barbecue garden and a shop where you can buy not only wine but other local products such as honey and jam. The winery is closed on every second Wednesday of the month and between December 29th and January 1st. The winery is about 15 minutes away by bus from Miyoshi Station, or an 8-minute taxi ride.

Further south is Miyoshi Fudoki no Oka Park, a 30-hectare site, which is home to several ancient kofun burial mounds as well as reconstructions of ancient dwellings and other structures. Also on the park grounds is Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore, which exhibits pottery and other artifacts found in the burial mounds, as well as dioramas and models to help explain the history of the local area. The museum is closed on Mondays. A bus from Miyoshi Station will take around 20 minutes to get to the park and a taxi will take around 10 minutes.

Other popular activities in Miyoshi include camping and kayaking at Lake Haizuka, fruit picking and other farm experiences at Hirata Tourist Farm and enjoying the hot spring baths at Kimita Onsen Mori no Izumi.

Transfers can be made at Miyoshi Station to Fukuen Line services bound for Fukuyama Station.

Bingo-Shobara Station

Only the weekend and holiday rapid service, the Shobara Liner, runs as far as this station in Shobara City. This is a jumping-off point for exploring the surrounding countryside and the Shobara Liner’s schedule is coordinated to connect with a bus service called the Taishakukyo Liner that runs to the Taishaku Gorge, a ravine famous for its scenic beauty.

Rapid Services

The Miyoshi Liner is a regular service that runs several times a day between the cities of Hiroshima and Miyoshi. At the time of writing there are four Miyoshi Liner services to Miyoshi and three to Hiroshima on weekdays, as well as five services to Miyoshi and four to Hiroshima on weekends. This train stops at the following stations:

Hiroshima > Yaga > Hesaka > Akiyaguchi > Kumura > Shimofukawa> Shiwaguchi > Mukaihara > Kotachi > Miyoshi

The Shobara Liner is a weekend and holiday service that at the time of writing runs between Hiroshima and Bingo-Shobara in the city of Shobara. In the recent past this service has also run further along the line to Bingo-Ochiai Station, which is also in Shobara City. On the days that this train runs, there is just one one-way morning service that takes 2 hours to reach Bingo-Shobara. This train stops at the following stations:

Hiroshima > Yaga > Hesaka > Akiyaguchi > Kumura > Shimofukawa> Shiwaguchi > Mukaihara > Kotachi > Miyoshi > Bingo-Shobara.

Useful Links

To plan your journey via the Geibi Line use an English language route finder like Jorudan’s Japan Transit Planner.

Timetables and route maps can also be found on the official JR West website.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 28-Aug-2026.